Talking heads speculate on what issues are most important to everyday people. Pollsters ask people what issues are most important. But what issues are truly important enough to drive everyday citizens to actually take the time to contact Congress?
For the first time, we have insight into what issues Members of Congress are hearing about from their constituents.
Yesterday our firm, Adfero Group, and Fireside21, a software provider to Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, released the first ever Congressional Conversation Index (CCI), a monthly survey of the top issues Congress hears about from citizens. Each month, the CCI measures the average number of recorded contacts on specific issues participating Members of the U.S. House of Representatives receive from the constituents they represent. Issues vary in topic, including public policy concerns, such as health care and technology, as well as overall citizen concerns about specific issues like energy and the environment.
On a month-to-month basis we will be able to see which issues are generating the most public engagement. The comprehensive data will reveal where true citizen interest in issues contradicts the conventional wisdom from talking heads, political consultants and pollsters.
Click here for more about the CCI, including detailed data for the first five months of this year.
Posted by: K Street Cafe Editor
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Posted by: K Street Cafe Editor
Adfero Group and Fireside21 Launch the Congressional Conversation Index
WASHINGTON – Two DC-based firms today launched the inaugural Congressional Conversation Index (CCI), a monthly survey of the top issues Congress hears about from citizens. Each month, the CCI measures the average number of recorded contacts on an issue that participating Members of the U.S. House of Representatives receive from the constituents they represent.
The CCI is joint effort by Fireside21, a communications software provider to more than 100 Members of Congress, and Adfero Group, a public relations firm that runs issue advocacy and public awareness campaigns for corporations, associations and non-profits.
“We are thankful to the Members of Congress who have volunteered to participate in the CCI,” said Ken Ward, C.E.O. of Fireside21. “Previously this kind of data on the volume of constituent contacts by issue has not been available to the public.”
According to the CCI, immigration rose to the number one issue that drove citizens to contact their elected officials in the U.S. House of Representatives in the month of May. Immigration has risen steadily month by month since the beginning of 2010. Defense dropped from number one in April to occupy the second spot in May.
“We will be interested in looking month to month at which issues are generating the most public engagement,” said Jeff Mascott, Managing Partner of Adfero Group. “The data will reveal where true citizen interest in issues contradicts the conventional wisdom from talking heads, political consultants and pollsters.”
Over the last two months health care dropped from the stratospheric levels it reached earlier in the year. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives who participated in the CCI received on average a staggering 2,539 communications from constituents on health care in March alone. This heavy volume of contacts on health care coincided with the health care reform debate in March. Health care has since dropped to eighth position in May.
The issue of the environment rose from seventh position in April to be the third most active issues for constituent contacts to Congress in May. The increased constituent interest in the environment is a likely response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The top ten issues on the CCI in May were (1) Immigration, (2) Defense, (3) Environment, (4) Financial Services, (5) Budget, (6) Medicare, (7) Taxes, (8) Heath Care, (9) Technology, (10) Social Security.
For more about the CCI visit www.kstreetcafe.com/cci
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About the Congressional Conversation Index (CCI)
The Congressional Conversation Index (CCI) is a monthly survey of the top issues Congress hears about from citizens. Each month, the CCI measures the average number of recorded contacts on an issue that a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives receives from the constituents they represent. The index is calculated from data provided by the Members of Congress who participate.
About Adfero Group
Adfero Group is a pioneering public relations firm that integrates sophisticated digital strategies with traditional communications tactics to advance our clients’ public affairs or business agendas. Adfero’s novel mix of offline and online tactics helps corporations, associations and government entities communicate effectively in today’s constantly evolving media environment. Learn more about Adfero’s work at www.adfero.com.
About Fireside21
Founded by former congressional staffers, Fireside21 creates easy-to-use Web-based tools that help legislators keep in close contact with their constituents. Fireside21 produces attractive, highly functional Web sites, improved methods of delivering emails to the right constituents and a simplified method of managing the overwhelming volume of constituent letters, emails and requests that are sent to elected officials. For more visit www.fireside21.com.
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About the Congressional Conversation Index (CCI)
What Is the Congressional Conversation Index (CCI)?
The Congressional Conversation Index (CCI) is a monthly survey of the top issues Congress hears about from citizens. Each month, the CCI measures the average number of recorded contacts on an issue that a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives receives from the constituents they represent. The index is calculated from data provided by the Members of Congress who participate.
Who Participates in the CCI?
Members of Congress voluntarily and anonymously submit data on the constituent contacts they received each month by issue. At present there are four Members of the U.S. House of Representatives that have volunteered data. Any Member who would like to participate should contact Ken Ward at Fireside21: (202) 621-5121.
What Are ‘Recorded Contacts’ in the CCI?
The CCI measures the average number of recorded contacts that participating Members of Congress receive each month. A recorded contact is defined as a contact from a constituent (i.e. letter, phone call, email, in person visit) that is categorized with an issue code and entered in the Member of Congress’ constituent database. For instance, if a constituent sends an email to a Member of Congress and that email is categorized with an issue code and entered into their constituent database then it is included in the CCI. If, however, a constituent calls a Congressional office about an issue and hangs up before providing their name their contact would not be recorded in the office’ constituent database and therefore would not be included in the CCI.
If you attend one professional development event this summer, I hope you will consider the half-day conference next Tuesday morning, June 15, at the National Press Club entitled, “The Most Effective Strategy for Reaching Congress.”
At the conference we will tackle three crucial items:
1. The Most Effective Strategy for Impacting Congress
The first panel will not only include seasoned advocacy professionals but also staff from House and Senate offices. There will be a great discussion about advocacy strategies and tactics that really work.
2. What Exactly is the Difference Between Grassroots and Astroturf?
There has been a lot of confusion lately about where grassroots organizing ends and astroturf begins. Our expert panel will include both practitioners and reporters alike sorting through the confusion.
3. The Launch of a New Index that Measures Citizen Engagement with Congress
Two DC-based firms, Adfero Group and Fireside21, will officially launch the Congressional Conversation Index, a ranking of the top issues that Members of Congress are hearing about from their constituents. This is the first time this kind of data has been made available to the public.
For more information about this half- day conference please visit here.
To register for the event click here.
Hope to see you on Tuesday!
Posted by: K Street Cafe Editor
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Posted by: K Street Cafe Editor
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Posted by: K Street Cafe Editor
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Posted by: K Street Cafe Editor
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